Apparatus for catching and delivering mail-bags and the like.



PATBNTED APR. 28, 1908.

B. L. TOQUET.

APPLIUATION FILED 38.10. 1908.

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I Q h 0 wrmssses I INVENTOR ig gym Joya/L ATTOR NE Y5 "rm: NORRIS ps'mns cm, WASHINGTON, n c.

No. 885,889. PATENTEDAPR. 28, 908. B. Io 'IIET. APPARATUS FOR CATGHING AND DELIVERING MAIL BAGS AND THE LIKE.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 10. 1908.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET z.

WKTNESSES ATTORNEYS rm: NORRISPIYERS cm, WASHINGTON- n. c.

STATES PATENT FF CE.-

BENJAMIN LOUIS TOQUET, OF wnsrroer, CONNECTICUT.

7 APPARATUS FOR CATGHING- AND DELIVERING MAIL-BAGS AND THE LIKE.

Application filed February 10, 1908. Serial No. 415,158.

Tola ll it may concern.- .2 "Bewit known that I, BENJAMIN Louis TOQUE'D, a citizen. of the United States of America, residing at Westport; in thecounty of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inA aratus, for Catching and Delivering Mailags and the Like, of which the following is a specification. 3

My invention relates to: a paratus. for catching an d;delivering mail, ags and the like and consists in the improvements 'set forthhereinafter. i i I hThe particular. object of my invention particularly with relation to mail bag catchers, is not only toisecure the advantages of-a freely swinging catching arm but also to provide means in connection therewith for shortening the radial length of the arm after thedelivery; ofzthe bagsoas to prevent the bag from swinging out against the passing traintunder the influence of centrifugal .force as the arm continues to-rotate. In connection herewith I provide also a novel catching device for thearm.

In the accompanying drawings in which an apparatus embodying my invention is shown, Flgure 1 is, an elevation of a mail bag receiving and delivering platform, providedwith my; device; Figs. 2 and 3ware res ectively plan and side elevations of thecatc ing arm drawn to a larger scale, and Fig.4 is a broken side. elevation of the catch in operation.

Referring to the, drawings, it will be seen that my improved device in the form. illustratcd, com rises a column .1 supported by a base 2whic. may conveniently be attached to elongated track ties for. the sake of additional rigidity. A cam 3 is firmly secured on thecolumn at a suitable height for the purpose hereinafter eXplained. The swinging arm 4, provided at its outer extremity with a catching device, slides freely through a slotted offset 5 on the carrier sleeve 6 which is loosely mounted on the column. Thus it will be seen that the .arm'notonly swings freel around the column,: but since it is capa 'le of sliding through the sleeve 6, its

radial length may be shortened durin rotation. This important feature I uti ize to draw the bag in toward the post after its delivery by the passing train. For this purpose I mount upon the inner end of the arm 4, an antifriction roller 7 which bears against the edge of the cam 3, so that as the arm ro- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 28, 1908.

tates and the roller 7 runs out on the cam the arm is drawn through the offset 5 on the sleeve 6, and its radial length during the c011- tinuance of its rotation is thus shortened so that the bag is carried in safety.

The tendency of the arm under the infiu ence of centrifugal force to slide out again to its original position after the. roller 7 has passed the outer face of the cam 3, is prevented by a suitable catch, such as the catch 8 pivoted on the offset 5. This-catch drops below the stop 9 on the arm as the roller7 moves outward on the cam and prevents the arm from sliding out again.- I Y Whileany suitable device may be used in connection with this arm for receiving and holding the bag as it is delivered by the passing train, I prefer that shown in the drawing which consists of a receiving hook 10 and a pivoted finger piece 11 mounted on the arm 4 andprovided with holding fingers 12 and 13 and an actuating finger 141- The impingement of the bag against the finger 14 swings the finger 13 toward the hook, against which it holds the bag during the'revolution of the arm around the column.

It will be noted from the drawing that the finger piece 11 is subjected to the action of a spring 15 through the rod 16 pivoted to the lug 17, so that when the arm is set to-receive abag, the retaining finger 13 is held open by the action of the spring which presses the finger 12 with its stop 18 against the back of the hook, while when the finger 13 isswung in by the impact of the bag against the finger 14, the spring now presses the latter against the bag and thus secures it within the hook. The spring 15 may be conveniently mounted on the rod 16 resting at one end against a swiveling abutment 19 carried by the arm and at the other end against an adjustable abutment 20 on the rod. I

In connection with this rod may also -be provided apivoted catch 21 carried by the arm and latching in a recess in the cam, by which. the arm is held in'position when set "to receive a bag. By a suitable connection with the rod 16 this catch is automatically lifted at the moment the bag strikes the finger 14 and thus the'arm is freed for rotation.

A swinging arm 22 for delivering pouches may be mounted on a crane above the receiving arm and the whole used for both catching and. delivering pouches as shown in Fig. 1. To enable the receiving arm to be used on a single track road the hook may be made to sugporting column.

hile the apparatus which I have described is my present preferred construction and is especially adapted for receiving and delivering mail bags, various modifications may be devised by which the principles involved are applied without departing from the scope o my invention, and I do not limit myself to the particulars shown and described.

No claim is made herein to the broad idea of a rotatable catching arm provided with a catching device comprising a receiving hook, a retaining finger device pivoted on said arm, spring means to hold said device against the bag after it has been delivered and means for actuating said device by the impact of the bag on its delivery. This device in its broad aspect forming the subject of a divisional application filed March 14, 1908, and bearing the Serial Number 421,112, based upon the present application.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device of the character described, having a sup ort, a freely rotatable catching arm mountec thereon and means for shortening the radial length of said arm during its rotation.

2. A device of the character described, having a support, a rotatable catching arm mounted thereon and means for shifting the axis of rotation of said catching arm during its rotation.

3. A device of the character described, having a support and a catching arm, in com bination with a rotatable carrier for said arm slidably connected thereto and mounted on said support and cam means for sliding said arm with relation to its carrier during their rotation.

4. A device of the character described, having a support and a catching arm, in. combination with a carrier for the latter mounted on the former and means for sliding said arm horizontally on its carrier.

5. A device of the character described, having a support, a cam thereon, a carrier freely rotating on said support, a catching arm slidably secured to said iarrier and a bearing for said arm on said cam whereby the axis of rotation of said arm is shifted lengthwise thereof during its revolution, substantially as described.

6. A device of the character described, having a support, a rotatable catching arm mounted thereon and means f or shifting the axis of rotation ol said ratching arm during its rotation, in combination with means to hold said arm after said axis of rotation has been shifted.

7. A device of the character described, having a rotatable catching arm, means for shortening the radial length of said arm during its rotation, anda catching device thereon comprising a receiving hook, a retaining tinger device pivoted on said arm, spring means to hold said device against the bag after it has been delivered and means for actuating said device by the impact of the bag on its delivery.

S. A device of the character described having a rotatable arm provided with a catching device and a latch to hold said arm when set to receive a bag in combination with means for shifting the axis ol rotation of said arm during its rotation.

9. A device of the character described having a rotatable arm provided with a catching device, a latch to hold said arm when set to receive a bag and means for automatically disengaging said catch by the impact of the bag on the catching device in con'ibination with means for shifting the axis of rotation of said arm during its rotation.

10. A device of the character described having a rotatable arm provided with a catching device, comprising a retaining tinger device actuated by the impact of the bag, in combination with a pivoted catch to hold saidarm in position when set to receive a bag and a connection between said catch and retaining linger device whereby said catch is lifted upon the impact of the bag, substantiall as described.

In testimony whereof I. have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BENJAMIN LOUIS TOQUF/l.

itncsscs:

WILLIAM ABBE, L. H. GRoTL.

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